With a new defensive coordinator in town and an open LB job up for grabs, Noah Sewell might just be one of the Chicago Bears’ most intriguing breakout candidates heading into 2025.
The former Oregon standout has flown under the radar his first two seasons, mostly contributing on special teams, but that could change quickly in Dennis Allen’s new system. Sewell has a real shot to crack the starting lineup alongside Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards—if he can stay healthy and make the most of training camp.
The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain assessed the team’s roster heading into camp, and he thinks Sewell could surprise.
“If he can avoid a training camp injury, don’t be shocked if Sewell wins the strongside linebacker spot. He had a solid spring,” Fishbain wrote on July 21.
Will Noah Sewell Win Starting LB Job for Chicago Bears in 2025?
GettyChicago Bears linebacker Noah Sewell has a strong chance to win the third starting RB role.
Sewell was a fifth-round pick by the Bears in 2023 after a strong college career at Oregon. His rookie season, he primarily played on special teams, finishing with nine tackles and a forced fumble over 13 games.
He remained in a depth and special teams role through the 2024 season, playing in nine games, finishing with four total tackles and another forced fumble, but was once again limited on defense. Injuries slowed his momentum, and a lingering hamstring issue further limited his ability to climb the depth chart.
Despite limited regular season production, Sewell remains a promising internal candidate for the Bears’ third starting linebacker role opposite Edmunds and Edwards. With Jack Sanborn now in Dallas, the SAM LB job is wide open. Sewell will face some competition, of course, but if he can finally stay healthy and he plays well under Allen, Sewell could be a starter in Year 3.
Dennis Allen’s Defense Could Be a Good Thing for Sewell
Sewell’s primary competition for the SAM spot includes journeyman Amen Ogbongbemiga and fourth-round rookie Ruben Hyppolite II. Sewell’s familiarity with the team and the trust of teammates like Edmunds—who has praised Sewell’s physicality and instincts in the past—give him a real shot to seize a bigger role.
Sewell’s versatility and special teams experience also help his case, but his ceiling ultimately hinges on staying healthy and proving he can handle early down duties and occasional coverage responsibilities. If he brings the same physical presence and sets the edge the way he did in college, Sewell could find himself staying on the field.
Multiple outlets, including Sports Illustrated and Clocker Sports, have named him a top candidate for the final starting linebacker spot heading into camp.
Known for his aggressive, downhill schemes and creative front-seven usage, Allen has a history of maximizing physical, instinctive linebackers who play with urgency and leverage. During his time with the Saints, Allen helped mold players like Demario Davis into Pro Bowl-caliber contributors by emphasizing gap discipline, blitz timing and versatility—areas where Sewell could thrive if properly developed.
We’ll see how it goes, but the competition for Chicago’s third LB promises to be an intriguing one.
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